Basil G. Parker arrived in Salt Lake City in August 1857 as the Mormons were preparing for war against the United States. His wagon train followed the ill-fated Fancher Party, who within a few weeks would be massacred by Mormons and Indians at Mountain Meadows near Cedar City in southern Utah. His autobiography contains the following account of an encounter he had with our Bill Hickman:

"Arriving at Salt Lake City we laid in a supply of provisions, but the Mormons looked at us rather sourly, as they knew the Government was sending troops to enforce the laws, and Parley Pratt had just been killed near Fort Smith, Arkansas and Capt. Jack Baker's train--which was just ahead of us--was accused of insulting them. In my own tent, while in Salt Lake, a Mormon threatened Baker's train, but as Capt. Jack was already far on his way, on the South Pass route, I could not warn him of the threat without seriously involving myself and train. The city was full of what looked like hostile indians, [p.63] and apparently they were trying to stampede our cattle, but I saw Bill Hickman, one of Brigham Young's destroying angels, and as I had just bought a fine bull from him, I asked him to tell the indians to call off their dogs that were bothering the cattle.

"He did as I asked him so the dogs and indians let our stock alone, and we soon moved out of the city without any more trouble."